Nandrolone phenylpropionate (NPP), or nandrolone phenpropionate, sold under the brand name Durabolin among others, is an androgen and anabolic steroid (AAS) medication which has been used primarily in the treatment of breast cancer and osteoporosis in women.[8][9][10][11][3] It is given by injection into muscle once every week.[3] Although it was widely used in the past, the drug has mostly been discontinued and hence is now mostly no longer available.[3][11]
NPP was first described in 1957 and was introduced for medical use in 1959.[3] It was the first nandrolone ester to be introduced, followed by nandrolone decanoate in 1962, and has been one of the most widely used nandrolone esters.[3][14] However, in more recent times, the drug has been largely superseded by nandrolone decanoate, which is longer-acting and more convenient to use.[3][11] In addition to its medical use, NPP is used to improve physique and performance.[3] The drug is a controlled substance in many countries and so non-medical use is generally illicit.[3]
NPP has been used mainly in the treatment of advanced breast cancer in women and as an adjunct therapy for the treatment of senile or postmenopausalosteoporosis in women.[3] Historically, it has also had a variety of other uses.[3] Because of its reduced androgenic effects, the drug has not generally been used in androgen replacement therapy for androgen deficiency in men and has instead been used for solely for anabolic indications.[2][15] However, nandrolone esters have more recently been proposed for the treatment of androgen deficiency in men due to favorable properties including their high ratio of anabolic to androgenic effects and consequent much lower risk of prostate enlargement, prostate cancer, and scalp hair loss relative to testosterone.[16][17]
The most common side effects of NPP consist of virilization (masculinization) in women, including symptoms such as acne, hirsutism (increased body/facial hair growth), hoarseness of the voice, and voice deepening.[3] However, relative to most other AAS, NPP has a greatly reduced propensity for virilization and such side effects are relatively uncommon at recommended dosages.[3] At higher dosages and/or with long-term treatment they make increase in incidence and magnitude however.[3] A variety of uncommon and rare side effects may also occur.[3]
Notes: Values are percentages (%). Reference ligands (100%) were progesterone for the PRTooltip progesterone receptor, testosterone for the ARTooltip androgen receptor, estradiol for the ERTooltip estrogen receptor, dexamethasone for the GRTooltip glucocorticoid receptor, aldosterone for the MRTooltip mineralocorticoid receptor, dihydrotestosterone for SHBGTooltip sex hormone-binding globulin, and cortisol for CBGTooltip corticosteroid-binding globulin. Sources: See template.
Note: All are via i.m. injection. Footnotes:a = TP, TV, and TUe. b = TP and TKL. c = TP, TPP, TiCa, and TD. d = Studied but never marketed. e = Developmental code names. Sources: See template.
Dose-normalized nandrolone exposure (serum level divided by dose administered) with nandrolone decanoate in oil solution by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection in men.[25][26]
NPP was first described in 1957 and was introduced for medical use in 1959.[3][27] It was initially used for a wide variety of indications, but starting in the 1970s its use became more restricted and its main uses became the treatment of breast cancer and osteoporosis in women.[3] Today, NPP is scarcely available.[3] The drug was the first form of nandrolone to be introduced, and was followed by nandrolone decanoate in 1962, which has been more widely used in comparison.[27]
Society and culture
Generic names
Nandrolone phenylpropionate is the generic name of the drug and its BANTooltip British Approved Name while nandrolone phenpropionate is its USANTooltip United States Adopted Name.[8][9][10][11] It has also been referred to as nandrolone phenylpropanoate or as nandrolone hydrocinnamate.[8][9][10][11]
Brand names
NPP is or has been marketed under a variety of brand names including Durabolin, Fenobolin, Activin, Deca-Durabolin, Evabolin, Grothic, Hybolin Improved, Metabol, Nerobolil, Neurabol, Norabol, Noralone, Sintabolin, Strabolene, and Superanabolon.[8][9][10][11]
NPP was marketed previously in the United States but is no longer available in this country.[28] Nandrolone decanoate, conversely, is one of the few AAS that remains available for medical use in this country.[28]
^ abMinto CF, Howe C, Wishart S, Conway AJ, Handelsman DJ (April 1997). "Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of nandrolone esters in oil vehicle: effects of ester, injection site and injection volume". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 281 (1): 93–102. PMID9103484.
^Wu C, Kovac JR (October 2016). "Novel Uses for the Anabolic Androgenic Steroids Nandrolone and Oxandrolone in the Management of Male Health". Current Urology Reports. 17 (10): 72. doi:10.1007/s11934-016-0629-8. PMID27535042. S2CID43199715.
^Brown TR (27 May 2003). "Androgen Action". In Bagatell C, Bremner WJ (eds.). Androgens in Health and Disease. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 25–. ISBN978-1-59259-388-0.
^Bagchus WM, Smeets JM, Verheul HA, De Jager-Van Der Veen SM, Port A, Geurts TB (2005). "Pharmacokinetic evaluation of three different intramuscular doses of nandrolone decanoate: analysis of serum and urine samples in healthy men". J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 90 (5): 2624–30. doi:10.1210/jc.2004-1526. PMID15713722.
^Minto CF, Howe C, Wishart S, Conway AJ, Handelsman DJ (1997). "Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of nandrolone esters in oil vehicle: effects of ester, injection site and injection volume". J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 281 (1): 93–102. PMID9103484.
^Belkien L, Schürmeyer T, Hano R, Gunnarsson PO, Nieschlag E (May 1985). "Pharmacokinetics of 19-nortestosterone esters in normal men". J. Steroid Biochem. 22 (5): 623–9. doi:10.1016/0022-4731(85)90215-8. PMID4010287.
^Kalicharan RW, Schot P, Vromans H (February 2016). "Fundamental understanding of drug absorption from a parenteral oil depot". Eur J Pharm Sci. 83: 19–27. doi:10.1016/j.ejps.2015.12.011. PMID26690043.
Wu C, Kovac JR (October 2016). "Novel Uses for the Anabolic Androgenic Steroids Nandrolone and Oxandrolone in the Management of Male Health". Current Urology Reports. 17 (10): 72. doi:10.1007/s11934-016-0629-8. PMID27535042. S2CID43199715.